Venetian blind track housing



Aug. 8, 1967 R. J. ELDREDGE, JR

VENETIAN BLIND TRACK HOUSING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1965 Wyn/r0? P/a/mm J 62025065, JP. 54

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Arrow/9 8 1967 R. .s. ELDREDGE, JR

VENETIAN BLIND TRACK HOUSING 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 2, 1965 United States Patent 3,334,682 VENETIAN BLIND TRACK HOUSING Richard J. Eldredge, 'Jr., 920 28th St., West Des Moines, Iowa 50265 Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,375 Claims. (Cl. 160-178) This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 352,730, filed Mar. 18, 1964, now US. Patent No; 3,280,891, entitled, Vertical Venetian Blind Traverse Apparatus.

This invention relates generally to Venetian blinds, and in particular to a Venetian blind track housing for use with vertical blinds.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved Venetian blind track housing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a Venetian blind track housing whereby the interior of the housing is readily accessible.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a Venetian blind track housing whereby the interior of the housing is readily accessible to enable the cleaning, repairing and the like of the carrier housed therein.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a Venetian blind track housing which has only a small opening for the passage therethrough of a connection between the carriage mechanism within the housing and the vertical blinds, thereby negating as much as possible the entrance of' foreign objects into the housing, and wherein further, the opening can quickly be enlarged by merely removing a pair of snap-fit closure members.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a Venetian blind track housing capable of attaining all of the above designated objectives and which is economical to manufacture, effective in operation, and easy to service.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the housing with the trim strips snapped in position;

' FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view like FIG. 2 of a modified unit without clamps;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the trim strip snapped on the housing and with a clamp in position to give a greater frictional engagement of the strip with the housing;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clamp;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded view of a detail of FIG. 2; and FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, exploded view of FIG; 3.

7 Referring now to the drawings, the Venetian blind track housing is indicated generally at 20 in FIG. 1 consisting basically of a housing 21 and a pair of trim strips 22 and The housing 21 (FIG. 1) is an elongated aluminum extrusion closed on three sides and both ends, and open on one side. A pair of inwardly extended, parallel, vertically spaced shelves 24 and 26 (FIG. 2) are formed on each inner side of the housing, and with the upper shelf 26 including a pair of diverging projections 27 and 28.The facing surfaces of the shelves 24 and 26 are smooth for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

Each trim strip 22 and 23 (FIG. 2) is an elongated aluminum extrusion and has a pair of parallel resilient legs 29 and 31, and a horizontal disposed leg 32. The legs 29 and 31 have inwardly projected beads 33 and 34 at their outer ends, spaced so as to snap on and off a mating engagement with the projections 27 and 28; when both trim strips 22 and 23 are attached to the housing 21, the transverse widths of the legs 32 are such that between 3,334,682 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 their inner edges 22a and 23a, a relatively narrow gap 36 exists therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 3, a modification of the Venetian blind track housing 20 is disclosed, with like reference numerals indicating like parts relative to the preferred embodiment of FIGS; 1 and 2. Each of the upper shelves 26' of the housing 21' has a pair of parallel, transversely spaced, resilient legs 37 and 38 extending perpendicularly upwardly therefrom, as viewed in FIG. 3. The housing is notched at 39 (FIG. 4) on both upper, outer corners.

Each trim strip 22 and 23 has a pair of vertically disposed, transversely spaced, resilient legs 29' and 31', and a horizontally disposed leg 32'. The legs 29 and 31' are so spaced as to snap on and off the housing 21', whereby the lower end of the leg 29' (see FIG. 4) will frictionally mate with the notch 39, and the leg 31' will frictionally slide against the leg 37 and between the legs 37 and 38.

To provide additional holding characteristics, a plurality of clamps 42 (FIGS. 4 and 5) made of spring steel may be snapped on the leg 31 at the grooves 40 and 41. The grooves 40 and 41 are formed on both sides and near the outer end of leg 31', and run the entire length thereof. The clamp 42 *(FIG. 5) is U-shaped with one leg 43 divided into three sections. The center section 44 is bent into another, shallow U-shape in a vertical plane, and the base 44' thereof extends outwardly from the clamp to coact with the leg 38 (see FIG. 4). The two end sections 46 and 47 each have approximately a forty five degree notch 48 and 49 cut into the outer edges thereof, and the triangularly shaped elements 51 and 52 formed thereby are bent inwardly to coact with the groove 41 (FIG. 4) for the purpose of holding the clamp 42 thereon.

The views of the housing unit 20 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 depict it when used at the bottom of a vertical slat Venetian blind. Were the Venetian blind track housing 20 used at the top of a vertical slat, the housing 21 and trim strips 22 and 23 would be merely inverted with the base 51 on top thereof. Either the base 51 or one of the sides of the housing 21 can be readily afl'ixed to the frame of a window or the like.

The facing surfaces of the shelves 24 and 26 act as tracks for the wheels (not shown), of a Venetian blind vertical slat carrier when mounted in the housing 21. The upper face of the shelf 24 as viewed in FIG. 2 is used as a track when the housing unit 20 is located on the bottom of the Venetian blind, while the lower surface of the shelf 26, as viewed in FIG. 2, becomes the track when the housing unit 20 is inverted and mounted on the top of the Venetian blind.

In view of the above description of the two modifications of the vertical blind carriage housing of this invention, it can readily be seen that when in use with the trim strips snapped in place, the rather small opening 36, from a transverse viewpoint, would prevent most foreign objects from entering the interior of the housing. The problem is not acute when the housing is mounted at the top of the Venetian blind, Where one would only be concerned with the entrance of dust into the housing 21. However, when the housing 21 is mounted at the bottom of a Venetian blind, with the opening 36 facing upwardly, where a foreign object such as a pencil, pen, paper clip or the like might enter the interior of the housing, the carriage mechanism therein could quickly become inoperable.

The invention is further enhanced by the ready adaptability of snapping off either one or both trim strips, thereby exposing the interior of the housing through the transverse opening defined by the interior facing edges of the shelves 26 (FIG. 2), and the shelves 26' (FIG. 3). When the repair, or other maintenance and cleaning services have been completed, the trim strips 22 and 23, or 22' and 23', can then be readily snapped into place as dea 3 scribed hereinbefore, leaving again the smaller opening 36.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention and one modification, thereof, have been described hereinbefore, it is to be remembered that various modifications and alterations canbe made thereto without departing from the full scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind having vertical louvers and a reciprocal carrier for holding and rotating the louver, an apparatus for mounting the carrier to a stationary element comprising in combination:

a housing means open on one side thereof and adapted to be attached to a stationary element at another side thereof;

a pair of inwardly extended, parallel, vertically spaced shoulder means formed on each of opposite inner sides of said housing means, the shoulder means closest to said open side including a pair of diverging projections formed on the exposed surface thereof; and

trim means detachably secured to said projection, and forming an elongated, narrow slot extended longi: tudinally of said housing means.

2. In a Venetian blind having vertical louvers and a reciprocal carrier for holding and rotating the louver, an apparatus for mounting the carrier to a stationary element comprising in combination:

a housing means open on one side thereof and adapted to be attached to a stationary element at another side thereof;

a pair of inwardly extended, parallel, vertically spaced shoulder members formed on each of opposite inner sides of said housing means, the shoulder members closest to said open side including a pair of diverging projections formed on the exposed surface thereof;

- and trim means detachably secured to each pairof said shoulder members, and having a pair of parallel horizontally spaced, vertically disposed legs with inwardly facing beads formed at the free ends thereof, said legs operable at said head ends to snap on and 01f said projections, and forming an elongated, narrow slot extended longitudinally of said housing means.

3. In a Venetian blind having vertical louvers and a reciprocal carrier for holding and rotating the louver, an apparatus for mounting the carrier to a stationary element comprising in combination:

a housing means open on one side thereof and adapted to be attached to a stationary element at another side thereof;

a pair of inwardly extended, parallel, vertically spaced shoulder members formed'on each of opposite inner sides of said housing means, the shoulder members relative to the transverse width of said housing means, extended longitudinally of said housing.

. apparatus for mounting the carrier to a stationary element closest to said open side including a pair of diverging projections formed on the exposed surface thereof; and 1 a pair of trim strips, each having a pair of parallel, substantially straight legs, said legs having inwardly pro.- jected beads formed at the free ends thereof so as to snap on and off each pair of said projections, said trim strips defining a narrow opening therebetween,

comprising in combination:

an elongated, right angular housing having a base wall and a pair of transversely spaced, parallel side walls; shoulder means integral with said housing and including a pair of inwardly extended, parallel, vertically spaced shoulder members the facing surfaces of which are smooth and straight; holding means formed on the exposed surface of the shoulder member closest to said open side, and including a pair of transversely spaced, parallel, verti cally disposed legs, and said holding means including further a notch formed on each outer exposed corner of said side walls closest adjacent said legs; and a pair of elongated trim strips adapted to be removably snapped into engagement with said holding means, and including a pair of leg members frictionally engageable with said holding means legs, and with the outermost leg member of each trim strip frictionally engageable with one of said notches. 5. In a Venetian blind having vertical louvers and a reciprocal carrier for holding and rotating the louvers, an apparatus for mounting the carrier to a stationary element. comprising in combination:

. an elongated, right angular housing having a base wall and a pair of transversely spaced, parallel side walls; shoulder means integral with said housing and including a pair of inwardly extended, parallel, vertically spaced shoulder members the facing surfaces of which are smooth and straight;

holding means formed on the exposed surface of the shoulder member closest to said open side, and including a pair of transversely spaced, parallel, vertically disposed legs, and said holding means including further a notch formed on each outer exposed corner of said side walls closest adjacent said legs;

a pair of elongated trim strips adapted to be removably snapped into engagement with said holding means, and including a pair of leg members friction ally engageable with said holding means legs, and yvith the outermost leg member of each trim strip frictionally engageable with one of said notches; and

a plurality of clamps frictionally engaged with each innermost leg member of each trim strip and frictionally engageable with the inner facing surfaces of each pair of'holding means legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1962 Cayton 1 60-173 7/1964 Edelstein 52-476 

1. IN A VENETIAN BLIND HAVING VERTICAL LOUVERS AND A RECIPROCAL CARRIER FOR HOLDING AND ROTATING THE LOUVER, AN APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING THE CARRIER TO A STATIONARY ELEMENT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A HOUSING MEANS OPEN ON ONE SIDE THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A STATIONARY ELEMENT AT ANOTHER SIDE THEREOF; A PAIR OF INWARDLY EXTENDED, PARALLEL, VERTICALLY SPACED SHOULDER MEANS FORMED ON EACH OF OPPOSITE INNER SIDES OF SAID HOUSING MEANS, THE SHOULDER MEANS CLOSEST TO SAID OPEN SIDE INCLUDING A PAIR OF DIVERGING PROJECTIONS FORMED ON THE EXPOSED SURFACE THEREOF; AND TRIM MEANS DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID PROJECTION, AND FORMING AN ELONGATED, NARROW SLOT EXTENDED LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID HOUSING MEANS. 